Volvo 110S saildrive noise

[Mark Maulden]

I seem to have a rather loud rattle when dead slow or when the drive train is seemingly unloaded. Going down the slipway, I usually have to go in/out of gear. At higher boat speeds when the drivetrain is loaded, it goes away. Seems like excessive backlash or a bearing problem?? Anybody have any experience with this? Am I motoring on borrowed time? Can maintenance be done in water? The local Volvo dealer has no experience but say they'd like to learn......Naturally, at my $100/hr expense...Oil looks good.

 

[kloudie1]

No experience here, but first check would be the folding blades of the prop.

 

[Mark Maulden]

shoulda mentioned... three blade fixed prop

 

[kloudie1]

Now comes the other stuff.. Is the noise from the engine or from the reversing gearbox or from the 90 degree gearset?? or from the lower unit??
There is a rubber coupling in there that could be a problem .. the prop still might be suspect too.. there is a cone nut and bolt that holds the prop tight that should be checked before going any further, even with a fixed prop..

 

[Mark Maulden]

Well, the noise has to be coming from the saildrive assembly which I'm calling everything attached to the engine. It's all one assembly and I haven't been close to it under the situation as I usually have to be at the helm. Not sure how to determine exactly where it's coming from. Maybe with a listening tube. It's not coming from the engine as I can go into neutral and it disappears. It seems to me either a gear backlash issue or a bearing issue. Everybody I talk to say that these are pretty bullet proof and have not heard of any systemic "rattling" issues. I'm going to pull the boat this fall for paint and will then determine what to do about it. It has to last another 3 yrs. After that it's a repower...

 

[kloudie1]

Ya correct, Mark.. sounds like not in the engine.. again, there is a rubber coupling between the engine and the saildrive assy.. and there is the fit and tightness of the prop on the shaft .. both of these could cause a rattle when unloaded. .. of course it could be a bad bearing or cone clutch too but if the oil level is correct and the oil is not metallic looking, I would suspect the coupling.. but more troubleshooting is in order.. For listening to noises like that ya need to be familiar with what a good one sounds like and then you will need something like a mechanics stethescope.. and someone to drive while someone else listens to the various parts.. Good luck locating it